Tourism Ministry could set floor for hotel room rates, move to enforce open skies agreements

A floor on how little hotels in Egypt can charge per night could be imposed by the end of June, Tourism Minister Yehia Rashed said, according to Al Mal. Rashed’s actions follows the recommendation of the Supreme Tourism Council. Rashed also said his ministry is coordinating with the Civil Aviation Ministry to implement open skies agreements in Egypt to allow international airlines more access to Egyptian airspace. The US State Department says Open skies agreements promote “increased travel and trade, enhancing productivity, and spurring high-quality job opportunities and economic growth” by “eliminating government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers about routes, capacity, and pricing, freeing carriers to provide more affordable, convenient, and efficient air service for consumers.”